Divers Find Sunken Treasure Off Israel's Coast

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 | Israel Today Staff

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A group of recreational divers this month discovered the largest cache of gold coins ever found in Israel while diving in the ancient sunken harbor of Caesarea.

The group of divers immediately notified the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which sent an underwater team to recover the treasure.

“They discovered the gold and have a heart of gold that loves the country and its history,” said the IAA’s director of the Marine Archaeology, Kobi Sharvit, of the recreational divers. Of course, Israel severely punishes anyone who pockets an archeological find with up to five years in jail.

But this particular find was surely tempting, with its nearly 2,000 gold coins dating back to the 11th century, when the land was ruled by the Fatimid dynasty based in Cairo. Experts believe the coins either belonged to a large merchant ship or were collected taxes en route to the capital in Cairo when the transport ship sunk.

Another IAA official noted that the coins were in near perfect condition, and required no special cleaning or other conservation efforts.

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Wednesday, February 18, 2015